What should a postgrad wear to present at a conference?

[D0RA]

DD is presenting at her first international conference in September. This is her first time presenting in person overseas, she’s only had posters or done online presentations at Uk conferences before.

There’s no photos of previous events online but I think the attendees will be academics or clinicians - it’s a very niche area of medicine.

I’m assuming that the dress code for students will be a little more relaxed ? The conference is at a university in Croatia, so the weather will probably be high 20s, maybe low 30s max.

She’s not going to the dinner or any other events ( as they cost a lot extra and she’s paying for it herself, no sponsorship 😥).

@D0RA It honestly depends so much on the field. I’ve just been at a UK history conference where everyone (including the most senior academics) wore jeans & t-shirts - anyone who turned up in a suit or similar would look extremely out of place.

Can she ask someone who has been to the conference before what “the norm” is? If not, I’d suggest a variety of options which can be smartened up / dressed down depending on what the vibe is when she arrives. Hope this is helpful - best of
luck to her!

I'd think about whether there will be a lapel microphone, something that it can clip to, hair doesn't get in the way and if name tags will also been worn on a lanyard or clip on.

I think it entirely depends on what her field is. I think it would be best to ask her colleagues in that field. My field is generally more formal than my partner's, who when I suggested for him to pack a tie for a conference he laughed at me (everybody was very casual).

I tend to dress more formally in general that most people my age and especially compared to others in my local area (Southern California - which is very casual).

Again, I think it also depends on where the conference is and who will be there as dress norms are very different to different people. I once went to a conference in my field and all the Californians were dressed in jeans and plaid shirts, compared to others that had come from outside of the US who were all dressed in suits.

I go to pharma conferences, they're reasonably casual but also reasonably stylish, and quite conservative. Something like 7/8 length chino type of pants and a white shirt, or something like a satin/very smart t-shirt type of top would be nice.

I was at a conference last week. Folks presenting were in smart tops and trousers, pretty dresses, some suits and jackets. If the supervisor doesn't have a firm steer, then she should wear smart but comfortable. Something that she feels good in.

Just coming back to thank you all for your help.

The conference style was exactly as many of you have described for medical conferences - the men mostly in suits or jackets with collared shirts and sometimes ties and the women in smart dresses or trousers/ skirts with dressy blouses.

DD wore smart black wide leg trousers and a black and white dressy blouse to do her presentation and a different but similar style tops on other days she attended.

She felt much more confident as she knew that she looked the part and fitted in with the other attendees.

Everyone was lovely to her and many of the more senior people took time to come up and talk to her and ask about her research, which was very encouraging for her. She was very excited to actually speak to people whose name she knows from reading their work!

@SoCalLiving you will not be surprised that the one man there in jeans and a polo shirt was from California 😁

@EllaMenopee you were right about the air con.

Sounds like it went really well for her, that's great 😊

Aww that's lovely, thanks for letting us know. I'm glad it all went well and she felt comfortable etc.